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Featured Article
Team OYB Up North! ...Week 1
July 13, 2010 - Well, we've been up north how long now? I can't remember! I guess it's been a week. We've done two art fairs. Martha is having a great time selling her LazyGal fabric art goodies. Our trailer life has been perfect so far. We arrived on Day One late at night in a crowded, quiet Petoskey State Park...and I backed the trailer into our site with...  > Read Article
Featured Products from OYB Press & Friends     See All Featured Products


Waterproof Swiss Rucksack
$50.00 (inc. S/H)
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"Silent Sports," July highlights: Chicago Biking
$4.00 (inc. S/H)
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"Urban Velo" sample: May -- featuring Asheville, NC
$3.00 (inc. S/H)
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"Momentum" #45, May/June: NYC snob revealed
$3.00 (inc. S/H)
Purchase |  More Info
OYB News...and a Few Handy Items World News, Stories & Links
What is OYB? --An HQ for Indie Outdoor Ed Preservation
April 24, 2010 - OYB fans the indie outdoor flame. How can we do it? Mostly because 100% of your purchases goes to support the mission. What's the mission? It's two-pronged. Firstly, this website has 1000+ stories (plus Forums) that show how the indie world connects together; it also offers affordable ad access for indie businesses. Secondly, it's a catalog that makes hard-to-find media & gear available and keeps ...  > Read Article

Should OYB & Company go Non-Profit?
April 23, 2010 - That's what I'm wondering. This is an educational cause, after all. Sure, I sell some things, but that's to support the Indie Outdoor culture and heritage outreach. I've always thought to just keep the whole thing simple, but maybe going Non-Profit would make the OYB mission clearer to the public. ? I've always thought that folks knew when they bou...  > Read Article

The OYB "Dually": a Nukeproof Saddlebag/Pannier from Repurposed Mil-Spec
April 23, 2010 - [$39, mailed in the US.] Check out this dual-purpose bag! It's a big, tactical-tough bike saddlebag. It's also a pannier! (And if you add the $10 option, it's a Shoulerbag!) And it's repurposed from a thrifty, brand-new MOLLE-type of mil-spec bag. (You know I like the versatile stuff!) Made of polyester cordura-type material ...
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Nice Little Shoulderbag: Czech Army Bread Bag
April 22, 2010 - [$20, mailed in US.] Here's a nifty little shoulderbag, a Czech Army Bread Bag, vintage but in good shape. I found a couple dozen -- when they're gone, they're gone. Details: Rusty-Olive color canvas. Size: 10" wide x 9" tall x 4" deep. Adjustable fixed shoulderstrap extends to 44" (good for probably up to 6' 2" person). Three pockets ...
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Classic Canvas Rucksack w/ 3-Pockets & Clips
April 19, 2010 - [$25 postpaid in the USA] Here's a nifty 3-pocket canvas daypack, the Dakota. Packs set up in such a great configuration are very rare (sadly) and usually far more expensive. It's similar to the Small ALICE pack, but a bit bigger...and cheaper. Man, I like the 3 pockets: they really let you keep smallish things organized. Yet hardly any thrifty...
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The OYB Bag --The World's Only 7-Way Bag!
March 04, 2010 - [$39, postpaid in US] The 7-Way OYB Bag is ready for action! Click on the PayPal button to the left under the picture and order away! Available with extra options like the very popular snug-mount stick (to optimize saddlebag mode), top-straps, and waterproofing. Read on, there's so much more! (Hmm, this is such a long product description, bu...
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The OYB Pannier --Classy! 4 Options!
March 03, 2010 - [$42 postpaid in USA for ONE pannier.] Presenting the OYB International Model Perfection Pannier! (Title courtesy of Herter!) Dang, these items are sharp. The base cases are high quality, very rare military surplus in good condition---used, with nicks, scuffs, stains and rumples. They have "beausage"---the beauty of use. The l...
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Hey! It's OYB's *20th ANNIVERSARY!*
February 10, 2010 - An OYB reader just emailed me today and said he was just reading the paperback compilation of Issues 1-8 and was amazed that I'd been publishing OYB since 1990. Well...I am, too! I hadn't even thought of it! I kinda had 1991 in my brain for some reason, but I suppose Issue #1 says 1990 on it somewhere. So I guess I've been out and about promoti...  > Read Article

OYB has an eBay Store!
January 08, 2010 - I'm launching an eBay store for OYB. I've had a username there for a few years, outyourbackdoor, that I've used to sell luggage, books, magazines and other goodies. Heck, Martha and I have been eBaying since it started and we together have 1000+ sales with a 100% rating since, like, 1994. But I'll soon ramp things up there. I'm even going to ...  > Read Article

Donate! Help the OYB cause...
January 05, 2010 - I've had several people recently ask how they can support the OYB cause. I've been relying on my offerings of great books'n'goodies that you can't hardly get anywhere else as being the best way. "Money for stuff" is the only way I can understand making a living. But I can accept that OYB *stuff* isn't right for everyone. Also, I don't want to ...  > Read Article

OYB Full-On Shoulderbag
January 05, 2010 - [$24 postpaid in the US.] Here's a shoulderbag that's just a shoulderbag. No options, no other uses. I've been using one as a car-bag for a year now, and I really like it, so I figure I should let you all know about it and make it available as yet another way for you to support the OYB Way of Life. Its specs are 4" x 10" x 11"; canvas. ...
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New OYB Luggage Patch!
October 20, 2009 - UPDATE 10/09: Here's my new LEATHER luggage patch. The stamp is done, the die is on the way. Patches in 2 weeks! The photo is what the stampmaker sent me, showing a sample stamped in a sheet of leather. It'll be die-cut into an oval then riveted to the luggage. The design image shows the shape and rivet locations. It'll also functio...  > Read Article

90's Flashback: OYB Ezines (Issues 7, 8, 9)
June 26, 2009 - Here's a link to the old Homepage for the OYB Ezine. It contains the stories that ran the print issues #7 & #8, circa 1996. Many of these are presented here and there on this new website but I think quite a few are missing as well. http://outyourbackdoor.com/OYB8/contentsnew.htm The above Contents page misses a fair amount of the nifty con...  > Read Article

Classy Vintage Salt'n'Pepper Shoulderbag
June 26, 2009 - [$18 postpaid in the USA.] Here's a little bag I just bought a few of. It's made of heavy salt'n'pepper canvas with a simple, stout, gorgeous centerpiece of a leather slot'n'stud closure. It's some kind of Swiss military surplus. These bags are used but in good condition. The 48" adjustable strap extends to let the bag hang just over my h...
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OYB has 1000+ Stories! --HEY!
June 23, 2009 - According to my stats, a couple weeks ago OYB sailed past the ONE THOUSAND stories mark! Actually, it's 1045 as of today. And, hey, I just checked the date of my first article posted to this particular incarnation of my website and it was in 2000. But this count only dates back to the start of my database-based website. OYB has been rockin'...  > Read Article

German Alpine Rucksack
June 15, 2009 - [$35, postpaid in the USA. I JUST FOUND THREE OF THESE RARE GOODIES One has a cracked/split vinylized bottom -- I'll let it go for $20, via a manual PP payment.] Here's a German military rucksack, used. This is a handsome, effective unit in about 75% condition. The 3 main benefits are the clip-closures---which are better than buckles ...
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Austrian Rucksack: light'n'snappy!
June 14, 2009 - [$50 postpaid in the USA. SOLD OUT! 4/12/10. I'll do my best to find more. It's a great ruck!] Here's a sweet rucksack for those who like a classy vintage look. It's also a super-rare item. NOTE: I offer these rare'n'nifty items as a great way for you to support this equally rare'n'nifty outdoor culture website, as I no longer offer a...
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$5 each! Huge Sale on Fifthway Books!
May 09, 2009 - $5 each for any Fifthway Press book by Ron Puhek! We'll do what it takes to get folks to give these provocative titles a try. FWIW, the date of this sale article is 2009, but it's actually 5/2010 when I'm launching this new price-point.  > Read Article

Hanging out the How-to Shingle!
December 03, 2008 - If anyone relatively near Williamston would like to learn how to have more fun---no matter what their current level---with XC skis, bikes, canoes, kayaks (rolling!), inline skates or the shooting sports, lemme know! I bet I could help give some uplift. In short order. For cheap. $20/hour, say. Kids, too. I'm hanging up my shingle!  > Read Article

Let's See Your Comments!
October 17, 2008 - Each of our OYB articles is followed by a "Reader Comments" section. If you have a reaction to the story or had a similar experience or a tip to pass on, please do! I had it set up so it didn't need a Log-In, but the spambots found it that day and loaded in random trash (who are these people?) so now you have to Log-In...as with any blog. OK, it...  > Read Article

Swiss Army "Salt & Pepper" Rucksack: classy, rugged
October 12, 2008 - [$50, postpaid in the USA. OUT OF STOCK.] These are rare and I can't find any more (as of 4/10). I'll re-activate the order button when I can find some more. In the meantime, here's the low-down on what they are/were, since they pretty much set the benchmark for a Quality yet Affordable vintage-type "classy" ruck... These vintage Sw...
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Norwegian Rucksack
October 11, 2008 - [$40, postpaid in the US] This is a basically new vintage Norwegian military surplus backpack with an ergonomic "A" frame. (I should maybe call a pack with a frame a backpack not a rucksack.) It's a very good looking, very well made pack. Olive drab canvas with light-green leather strapping. Size is 19" x 14" x 6" on a 1/2" dia tubular frame...
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Free Sample OYB!
September 07, 2008 - OK, just to show you that the web isn't everything and that PAPER rocks, too, I'm offering a FREE SAMPLE issue of OYB to anyone who ... is willing to pay the postage. Just click the PayPal order button and it'll only bill you $2 which covers most of the postage. The freebie is big, tasty issue #8. All my back issues are still available. ...
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Modern Big "ALICE" 3-Pocket Rucksack
September 04, 2008 - [$35, postpaid in the USA.] I decided to offer a couple more modern-style rucksacks. Here's a brand-new nylon ALICE military pack. It's technically a Medium but I call it Large. It's available in various colors (but please pick the Woodland Camo pictured for now, hint hint). Lots of fittings for extra ALICE add-on's, if you're into that. The ...
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Handy 3-Pocket Medium ALICE Daypack
September 04, 2008 - [$30 postpaid in the USA] Here's a brand new canvas ALICE military-style rucksack. Technically, it's a "small," but it's not THAT small---more like a Med-Sm. Size: 16" x 10" x 7". Available in several colors (I suggest the Olive for now---hint, hint). Three pockets. Plastic jiffy clips. This is a fine all-round grab'n'go pack size, with 3 poc...
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The OYB Gift Shop!
December 29, 2006 - Chock full of goodies in fresh demographic styles. Check it out! My favorite is the khaki hat with the "skate style" green'n'blue logo. Next would be the shoulderbag. These are great items! All items priced at cost. How many corporate iden...  > Read Article

OYB 10---Print Window to Modern Folkways
October 02, 2005 - [$5 postpaid. OUT OF STOCK! I do have a few #9's left.] The biggest-ever issue of OYB is a great way to get a full-figured view of the OYB scene! The OYB "catazeen" has to be the only magazine of authentic, informal, do-it-yourself, indy adventure and outdoor culture. It also gives descriptions for all the books, mags, videos, music, and drygoo...
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Swiss Army Daypack
September 30, 2005 - [$40. OUT OF STOCK. This pack is now totally unavailable. I should just delete the entry. But I like it so much... If I ever find more, I'll let you know. Just drop me an email saying you want one.] Here's a neat and rare daypack to add to the line-up. It's mil-sup and built to highest quality. Classic Swiss "salt'n'pepper" canvas with l...
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OYB Anthology! ---Indy action galore
July 16, 2005 - [$15. $5 off $20 retail!] I've been pushing the OYB Anthology on the back-issues page but really it deserves its own attention. Darn, this thing is full of amazing stories and artwork. It's the first 8 issues of OYB bound together as a nice perfectbound paperback 8.5x11" book. 200+ pages. I'll see if I can find an index to the stories in it....
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OYB Back Issues: New to You!
July 10, 2005 - Back issues are available here on this page cheap! --- $2 to $5 ea (postpaid), depending on weight. Scroll down to see quicky-indexes below. Paper issues have tons of stories not at this website. (And verse vicea.) I must say, these are amazing zines. I had wonderful layout and editorial help over the years. To show what I mean, I scanned th...  > Read Article

Martha launches LazyGal!
March 06, 2005 - Martha's gift item studio is now a full-service website full of pillows, blankets, scarves, dresses, with dealers and shows coming up and creativity bursting out every which way. She had a huge Chicago art fest success this summer and is having a blast. She even hosted a quilt retreat up north for the ladies (wit...  > Read Article

Little Miss Lucy!
November 06, 2004 - Henry isn't the only pintsized artist around here. Lucy (4) is into DIY song and dance (with a foghorn voice and fiery temper). She's also sprung a few graphics surprises on us. She signs her name several cool ways. We find scary smiley faces around the house. And...  > Read Article

Jeff's Dreams
October 08, 2004 - Probably most folks think that other people's dreams is dumb. But ya never know. In case there are dream buffs here, here are some of my typical dreams. I recently had a doozy. It was too beautiful. Here goes: I'd found several areas in the total wasteland of a suburb that I now live in where people lived as actual humans. There was a scene with...  > Read Article

Homebrew vs. Hightech, The Training Plan Duel!
September 05, 2004 - Mike Muha is a local friend and ski racer. He runs a super XC ski racing website. We have agreed to take up the challenge of the Dueling Training Plans. He's using a fancy-schmancy coach and eensy-weensy-details training plan to reach his goal of improving his ski race results. I'm using willynilly Backyard Methods of reach my goal of losing 10 pou...  > Read Article

Henry's Spark, a Kick-scooter for Snow
February 05, 2004 - So I made time the other day to whip together a Xmas present for the kiddies. A Norwegian "spark" or kickscooter for use on snow and ice. I've seen quite a few drawings of them in things like the "Boy's Handy Book." And thanks to Dave Dermott on the XC ski Usenet newsgroup, I've discovered that there's a whole world of sparks out there, including m...  > Read Article

OYB Hits the Big League
February 05, 2004 - Over the next year or so, I'm gonna make zining into my new *anti*dayjob!!!! I have a very rare chance to give it a shot. I've sold off most of my worldly assets and greatly simplified life's undertakings, plus I've basically sold my job. It's my first big work change in 15 years! If you know of anyone else who is pulling off a stunt like t...  > Read Article

The Myth of the Natural
February 05, 2004 - It's amazing how people think you don't have to know how to do something to be able to do it. --At a somewhat high level, one that is satisfying anyway. I'm thinking of sports. But it seems to relate to education in general. The myth of the natural---someone who can be an expert in something without practice, coaching or training---puts down edu...  > Read Article

Postscript: Bluegrass Serendipity Up North
February 05, 2004 - An interesting postscript to our trip down south, where we got to meet Balder Saunders, is that a couple weeks after we got home, I got an email from Jack saying that his other boy, Owen, would be here in Detroit playing bluegrass the next day. I'd never met Owen, but I'd read about him in Jack's novels, just as I'd read about Balder. I read as ...  > Read Article

Our Down South Drive in 2003
February 05, 2004 - Well, I've been meaning to write this up for awhile now. I better do it while it's still fresh. I learned several interesting new things on this trip and met some amazing people and did a few nifty things, so here we go.... It's been several years since we went on a big roadtrip drive exploring new territory. It's been 4 years since we vi...  > Read Article

A Rant on Zines ... at the Big U
February 05, 2004 - I just got to give a speech all about zines and print media and how the Net has impacted them at MSU today for 300 kids in a class at the Journalism Dept! I haven't talked in public in 10 years, and never to a big auditorium, like, with a mic. An MSU professor heard that I did both books and websites and asked if I would give a talk. Since I wasn't...  > Read Article

Our Out-West In-Laws RV Road Trip Report
January 05, 2000 - Well, I'm back. We survived our 4200-mi road trip in our little RV. Me, my family and the in-laws! How bout that! We went from Mich > Ariz and back by way of Boulder, Colo, my old stomping grounds. I rode my bike every day after our driving. What a great way to explore and get fresh air. So here's the report: the US has become Bangla...  > Read Article

Songs of the Outdoor Life?
July 26, 2010 - Anyone know any good songs or singers of the Outdoor Life? I'm thinking of... *two-tracks ("Seasonal Road, Unplowed") *bike riding ("King of the Big Ring... off the front!") *xc skiing *vintage travel trailers ("It's a Mighty Rig...") *kayaking, canoeing, small boats of any kind... Any variations or similar themes freely apply....  > Read Article

Biggest Canoe Race: Game On for the AuSable!
July 25, 2010 - I've been remiss in not letting you know about the AuSable Canoe Marathon. It's happening RIGHT NOW! It's easy to watch it online, so you have until about 1pm to enjoy the action. ...Or, just pretend that it didn't start yesterday and scroll through the results-updates whenever you like and watch the race unfold. What I like to do is go...  > Read Article | Go to Website

AuSable Marathon YouTube Videos (and other races, too)
July 25, 2010 - I'm lamely behind the ball on this sports reporting stuff this year for the Marathon. It's already over! But here are a few nifty YouTube videos to check out for some reverse inspiration... *This one offers a bow-cam point of view of the start. Pure mayhem! Feel the fever... Watch the wipeouts... Read Article

Waterproof Swiss Rucksack
July 24, 2010 - [$50 shipped in the US. I JUST GOT FOUR OF THESE RARE ITEMS! And I've now sold two of them today. So...only two left! I don't know when I'll find more. They're in 75-85% condition.] Here's a good, used waterproof Swiss Army vintage military rucksack. In very good condition -- broken-in but not worn much. You'll be impressed! They're prett... > More Info > Purchase

Canoe SUP *finally* coming on!
July 23, 2010 - SUP is all the rage these days. There are at least two magazines on it out there, on everyday newstands. Stand-up Paddle surfing makes sense here in the Great Lakes area. We have a lot of water, and lots of waves, but no really big waves. SUP lets you surf small water. It's also a dandy workout. We're up north these days, near the coast, and...  > Read Article

Team OYB: Our 4th Summer Home!
July 23, 2010 - We recently moved the Team OYB Vintage Travel Trailer over to near Lake Leelenau at our friends Sue and Gary's house. It's our fourth stop on the Summer Art Fair Tour. 3 more to go! They have a buncha acres and down near the end of their long dirt driveway is an old abandoned trailer home. I explored it the other day. It's dry inside! It looks l...  > Read Article

Mr. B's Joybox Express: a PIANO band *bikes* across Michigan!
July 02, 2010 - From Mr. B's Facebook page: "You gotta see this! ... On July 2, 2010 four musicians begin a 2 week tour across the State of Michigan on bicycles. They will ride from Saugatuck to Detroit (300 miles), hauling their instruments with them: string bass, a drum set, a guitar, and a 352-pound piano! The Joybox Express Quartet will perform at ev...  > Read Article | Go to Website

A New Rule for the Seat-of-the-Pants Gang...
July 02, 2010 - New rule: "When you have neither time, money, skill nor help: wing it!" (...If the odds aren't too bad. And you're not too high off the ground...) (That's what we're doing with our upcoming travel trailer getaway. They say we should regrease our hubs. How? It's just too much. It's all worked great so far. ...So, we'll play it as it lays!...  > Read Article

The Roots of the Tour Divide...
July 02, 2010 - It might just be me, but a dose of backgrounding has been a helpful supplement to the "live" reports during the ace. We've all been through some challenges in this edition of TD -- racers and spectators alike. Yes, racers aren't the only ones provoked, inspired ... changed ... by a race like this. Last year my eye was attracted by the cluste...  > Read Article

Team OYB won't be shipping until Aug 10!
June 30, 2010 - We'll be living up north from July > August 10, or so. The kids and I are helping Martha with a series of art fairs. We're living on the road in our vintage travel trailer like carnies, rolling from town to town. I'll be working on the folding bikes book on the laptop. And working on updating the website. I hope to get email every day or so.  > Read Article

Team OYB Up North for July/Aug!
June 30, 2010 - Yeah! So I won't be shipping til we get home. We're test-riding the Up North lifestyle. Peripatetic. (Is that how it's spelled? I'm not getting a red line under it, so...) Actually, who needs to move up north when you can just *move around.* A cottage here, a trailer there...  > Read Article

"Silent Sports," July highlights: Chicago Biking
June 24, 2010 - [$4 mailed sample] "Silent Sports" is a dandy magazine of outdoor enthusiams -- mostly of the fitness, aerobic, human-powered kind. I sell samples to let a wider audience know about this fine magazine. It's not available on many newstands outside its main WI/MN markets. This issue offers Part 3 of a "How to Run a Fast Marathon" series. I ... > More Info > Purchase

Searching for Their $500 Toilets
June 23, 2010 - I remember in the 1970's when there were news items about the military paying $500 for a toilet seat and maybe also $500 for a hammer. Everyone seemed to me to be shocked by this and said "This kind of thing has to stop! It'll ruin the nation!" Full stop. Period. (I'm old enough that I've received a telegram.) It seems that today that ma...  > Read Article

Now, THERE's a Rig...
June 23, 2010 - This photo is a bit murky but I hope you can see what's going on. Superhost Dave canceled last Thursday's Poto Ride Revival because he had to go to Wisconsin to help clean up his grandma's house. Understandable. He had to leave early to catch the ferry across the lake. Cool. So I just now get this photo showing HOW he got to Wisconsin. It...  > Read Article

What's Your Handy Customized Pack Rig?
June 22, 2010 - I'm starting to think that a handy trail-pack rig would be a fishing vest with a Camelbak pack over top. What I really like is access to stuff while on the go. Things like snacks, camera, phone, binocs, map, compass, GPS. Plus water, of course. I used to rely on my fannypack with bottle holsters, but I get tired of rotating the pack to the f...  > Read Article

"Messing About in Boats": May issue
June 20, 2010 - MAIB doesn't have much of an online presence. That's because it's actually an effiective, efficient, one-man real paper magazine. The best boat magazine in the world. Use the website to buy a sub, that's all. Subs are $32 a year for 12 issues. They're thick, dense 60-pagers. Black'n'white. The editor, Bob Hicks, might've finally hit 80 years of age...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Messing About in Boats": June issue
June 20, 2010 - MAIB doesn't have much of an online presence. That's because it's actually an effective, efficient, one-man real PAPER magazine. The best boat magazine in the world. Use the website to buy a sub, that's all. Subs are $32 a year for 12 issues. They're thick, dense 60-pagers. You can't buy it on newstands, either. Bob hates the waste. Black'n'white. ...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Urban Velo" sample: May -- featuring Asheville, NC
June 20, 2010 - [$3 mailed sample!] "Urban Velo" is a color mag of bike culture. Subs are $18 for 6 issues. Go to http://urbanvelo.org. These guys give away each issue online as well. But paper rocks. Whet your whistle with this May issue sample for just $3 mailed. 90 pages full color. Nifty 8" x 8" format. Contents include: Denver’s Courier Vetera... > More Info > Purchase

"Momentum" #45, May/June: NYC snob revealed
June 20, 2010 - [$3 mailed sample issue.] Heck, even the ADS in this new breed of bike mags are sweet. Bike culture rules! This issue of "Mo," the bike culture mag from Canada, features... *Detroit! *Electric bikes *Bike Snob interview *Lotsa summer touring info and reports! Plus dozens of sidebars in 9x11" and 50 pages. A paper sub is $20 ... > More Info > Purchase

"Bicycle Times" #6:
June 20, 2010 - [$3 mailed sample.] *Feature on musicians who use bikes to go on tour. ...They keep popping up! *NAHBS report *Overview of locking/security options *City bike reviews! ...Covering several rates of likely speed, from fast commuting to sedate Dutch-style. *Big profile of Euro bike mecca: the city of Antwerp. See what they have and dema... > More Info > Purchase

"Dirt Rag": keepin' it real for the dirt
June 20, 2010 - [$3 for sample issue.] This issue of "DR" highlights Georgia and its main IMBA Epic trail, giving the history and lowdown and a ride report. But it branches out far and wide in Georgia from that take-off point. Other major highlights include an overview of bottom brackets and of bunny-hopping. But back to Georgia... A cool thing about a b... > More Info > Purchase

Verlen Kruger biography: king of canoe adventurers
June 20, 2010 - [$25 mailed.] Here's a like-new inscribed-by-author copy that I found at a garage sale. Hardcover. 305 pages. Verlen Kruger started the modern scene in endurance adventure canoeing. He also developed the key boat design in the class. He paddled epic adventures until he was in his 80's. He's a local guy to us and I paddled with him an... > More Info > Purchase

"Bicycle Quarterly" Summer 2010: issue overview
June 19, 2010 - [Click on link to order this issue for $8.50 from the "BQ" publisher. An annual subscription is $30.] "BQ" is distinctive, some might say quirky, but it's also a magazine that cares enough about enthusiast cycling to be candid and to push -- despite a micro-budget -- for a relevant level of clarity about the still-murky subject of bicycles. I m...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Bicycle Quarterly" Spring 2010: issue overview
June 19, 2010 - (This issue is available direct from the publisher at the above link for $8.50. Subscriptions are $30 a year.) This magazine is tough, diverse and hardcore! And this issue is just jam-packed full of amazing contents. Check out the details below, but the main features line-up only covers 2/3's of the amazingly fresh content here. Even the minor i...  > Read Article | Go to Website

RAAM: Three Recumbent Teams Doing Great!
June 16, 2010 - It's a great year for recumbents at RAAM. Barbara Buatois of France is in the lead -- on a recumbent -- by a couple hundred miles, approx., at TS 38, 2138 miles into it. I can't find any Splits info or Commentating as relates to the 9 day (and a few hours) women's overall record. Does BB have a chance at it? She's a rookie racer and if she makes...  > Read Article | Go to Website

Tour Divide is On the Trail!
June 15, 2010 - The TD started last Friday. The day before that the organizer gave me the keys to the car for their homepage, said "Post some things!" then went off and started racing. Since then I've figured out a few news items to post. It's a thrill coz I've never done this kind of thing before. But what fun! Head on over to http://tourdivide.org and see wh...  > Read Article

"Bicycle Dreams": the first movie about RAAM
June 14, 2010 - [bump from 9/09] Stephen Auerbach is a Hollywood director who seems to have busted-loose and is now indie. He made big stuff, now he's going more up close and personal. A few years ago he made a popular TV documentary on the Race Across America nonstop transcontinental bike race, getting NBC's highest ratings ever for a bike event. With this fe...  > Read Article | Go to Website

Emergency Training, Learn by Doing...
June 12, 2010 - A few days ago I was driving home in the night on remote dirt back roads and I came across a scary scene at an intersection. It's awkward to relate, but there might be something useful in it, so here goes. There was a car in the intersection and a young woman got out of it and stood up in my headlight and she was covered in blood, tall and glam...  > Read Article

Viva le Tour! ...Keeping those Roots Alive
June 11, 2010 - Here's the result of an accidental meeting at a bike race. Photos of a guy's collection of TdF bikes and memorabilia. There's a feel here that connects you back to the roots of all this. Especially those old bikes with the leather grips... He actually has the FIRST winning bike... http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?652826-(photos)-V...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Do What Ya Can with What Ya Got" vs. "All Work and No Play"
June 10, 2010 - What can ya do with all these big long daylight hours? I'll tell ya! You can keep going and going. Pile it on! ...Even during the work week! **** I don't want to jinx anything, but I had to laugh at an email I got today. And I have to share it with you. To set the stage, I haven't gone on a Fun Ride yet this season. Sure, I've done...  > Read Article

"Velo": photo book of bike culture
June 10, 2010 - A German coffee-table type of book of bike culture just hit these shores. 235 pages of high-end photography covering the whole scope of world bike culture. 8" x 10" format. Thick paper, sewn soft binding. It's a whirlwind tour, running back'n'forth among everything bike. There's no overt organization, just color, life and bikes. The caption...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Boneshaker": a bike culture almanac
June 10, 2010 - When an OYB 7-Way bag customer mentioned digging into his new issue of "Boneshaker: a Basic Field Manual for Utility Riding" I knew I had to check it out. Basically, it's a bike culture journal. It's a bit like "Urban Velo" only smaller (yet) in format and with lengthier articles and essays. More meat/text/literaryness. (...Not to take anything ...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Bike Snob": the book of the sassy blog
June 10, 2010 - BikeSnobNYC is a funny blog that pokes fun of bike hipsterism, trying as cleverly as it can to keep bikers connected to the real world, even one that includes fashion. The anonymous author has been dismayed by the bike fads among fresh-faced lads and lasses that push reckless spending and danger. No need!, he says. Think! Well, he finally came ...  > Read Article | Go to Website

"Adventure Cyclist" magazine: May, June 2010 issues
June 10, 2010 - [$5 each for sample issues. SOLD!] The ACA publishes a great magazine of bike touring. Want to see what it's all about? Here's a choice of sample issues. Let me know in a note if you want the May or the June issue with this $5 fee. (Or send a manual PP payment of $7 for both.) May features include: *Thomas Stevens: first around the glo... > More Info > Purchase

Tall Bike Fever!
June 09, 2010 - Tall bikes have been around for years now and are quite popular. They're made in lots of ways but it seems like they're starting to become more dialed in. People are now REALLY using them. The most amazing use of Tallbikes, I think, is the Cyclown Circus. I just saw some pics of them in the new bike book, "Velo: Bicycle Culture and Design." It's...  > Read Article

Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour: a few photos
June 09, 2010 - My brother and his pals -- the 3 grumpy old men -- drove 14 hours a month ago to Minnesota and did a 2-day vintage 3-speed bike tour near Red Wing with about 50 others. They cycled about 40 miles a day and enjoyed several tea-party breaks along the way. Interestingly, my bro is approx 45, Lenny is 65 and Bob is 95 -- give or take a few. What a road...  > Read Article

A DIY Bike Book for the Gals: Julie Harrell's "A Woman's Bike Book"
June 09, 2010 - Julie Cruiser just came out with a new bike book for women. But it's good for anyone to read. It's an expanded new edition of her earlier bike book. She's published it herself. It's intended as a personal view of one gal's life in bikes and the way that she's learned to share what she knows with other women. She's worked many years in bike shops an...  > Read Article | Go to Website

Diverse Bike Tech Book: "The Cycle Zoo"
June 09, 2010 - Stephen Nurse is a bike buff and builder. He's invented a modular bike that uses a plug'n'play system to create a bunch of different bikes -- single upright, tandem, load-hauler, recumbent, and mixed 'bent/upright tandem -- it looks like you can even make triples and such with it. He also recently self-published a bike tech book called "An Illus...  > Read Article | Go to Website

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